1. The United States Goes to War
Ch. 12 (s.2)
The United States Goes to War

2. Read to Discover

3. 1. What challenges did the U.S. face while trying to remain neutral?
28 million Americans (30% of pop) were immigrants or children of immigrants who had ties to either the Allies or Central Powers
Who did we support more?
The Allies (why?)
Common culture, heritage, & language
Both Great Britain & Germany attacked U.S. Merchant ships trying to trade w/both countries

4. 2. What events led to the U.S. entry into WWI?
German U-Boat sunk the Lusitania (British passenger liner carrying 128 U.S. passengers & war munitions)
Sussex Pledge –
After Pres. Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Germany if it didn’t halt U-Boat attacks, the Germans issued this pledge or renewal of an earlier promise not to sink liners without warning or without ensuring the passengers’ safety

5. 2. What events led to the U.S. entry into WWI? (Continued)
Robert Lansing –
U.S. Secretary of State, who took over for the more passive William Jennings Bryan
He was a staunch supporter of the Allies & strongly encouraged Pres. Wilson to increase our trade of war materials to the Allies
The U.S. arms sales to the Allies reached $500 million in 1915 (80 times the amount sold in 1914) & much more than we traded w/Central Powers

6. 2. What events led to the U.S. entry into WWI? (Continued)
In 1916, we started to prepare our military for war
British intelligence intercepted the Zimmerman Note & released it to U.S. newspapers, pushing American sentiment over the top, demanding the U.S. declare war on Germany
Zimmerman Note –
British intelligence intercepted a note from the German Ambassador to Mexico (Arthur Zimmerman)
Germany promised Mexico the state of Texas once the WWI was over, in return for Mexico’s alliance during the war

7. 2. What events led to the U.S. entry into WWI? (Continued)
The Senate declared war on Germany on April 4th, (The House followed 2 days later)
The vote was not unanimous (6 Senators & 50 Reps opposed the declaration)
Jeanette Rankin –
U.S. Representative from Montana who was one of 50 Reps who did not support Congress’s Declaration of War
‘I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war’

8. 3. How did the U.S. prepare the military for war?
National Defense Act –
Passed by Congress in June of 1916
Increased the number of soldiers in the regular army from 90,000 to 175,000 with the ultimate goal of 223,000 (Nat’l. Guard – 450,000)
Congress appropriated $313 million to build up the U.S. Navy
Selective Service Act
Passed by Congress on May 18th, 1917
Required men between 21 – 30, to register with local draft boards (later changed to men between as more troops were needed)
By the end of the war, some 24 million men had registered for the draft, with 2.8 million actually drafted to fight

9. 3. How did the U.S. prepare the military for war? (Continued)
Minority Americans (Native American, Hispanic American, & African American) were discriminated against in the service, yet still expected to fight
Massive training camps were quickly built to house & train the millions of soldiers that would soon be sent over to Europe to fight
Endured medical exams, military rules, drilling w/rifles, exercising, & constant clothing/equipment inspections
Trained how to fight, fire weapons, hand-to-hand combat with bayonets

10. 4. What types of experiences did Americans have while serving in Europe?
Convoy System –
Escorted by U.S. warships, merchant vessels transported troops, supplies, & volunteers through U-Boat infested waters of the North Atlantic (not one of the 2 million U.S. soldiers died in transit)
To contain German subs, we laid more than 60,000 mines in a lethal 240 mile necklace across the North Sea from Norway to the Orkney Islands off the British coast

11. 4. What types of experiences did Americans have while serving in Europe? (Continued)
General John J. Pershing –
U.S. General who commanded the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) which reached France in late June 1917
Born in Missouri (1860); U.S. Army’s most experienced combat officer
Graduated from West Point in 1886; spent 4 years fighting Native Americans in the Southwest; taught military tactics at West Point in 1897; fought in the Spanish-American War (serving in the Philippines) from 1899 – 1903; returned to the Philippines as a Brigadier General in 1906; sent to Mexico to try & capture Pancho Villa in 1916
Pershing insisted that the U.S. troops fight as a separate unit & not be added to the Allied forces
On July 4th, 1917, U.S. troops marched through Paris cheered on by huge crowds

12. 4. What types of experiences did Americans have while serving in Europe? (Continued)
Army engineers built docks, railroads, ammunition depots, camps, hospitals, storage sheds, & networks of telephone/telegraph lines
U.S. troops did not experience fighting until 1918
10,000 women served in army hospitals